If Burslem can be
said to have a first family then that role was fulfilled in the 18th century
by the Wedgwood family. Various branches of the family occupied some of the
most important estates in the town encompassing the Overhouse Estate, the Red
Lion Estate and the Churchyard Estate (see the 1740 and 1832
maps).

In the middle of the
18th century it was the Wedgwood's of the Red Lion Estate who made the most
significant contribution to the development of the pottery industry in the
area. The brothers Thomas Wedgwood (1703-76) and John Wedgwood (1705-80) took
possession of their father's Potworks adjoining the Red Lion Inn in 1743. Here
they conducted a series of successful experiments to improve the quality of
their pottery with the result that there was a rapid increase in demand for
their products.

To satisfy their requirements for flint they engaged James Brindley to
construct a windmill on the Jenkins behind their factory and to fill it with
machinery for grinding flint in water (the windmill can be found on the 1832
map). They soon found that the old factory premises were incapable of meeting
their production requirements and Simeon Shaw in his History of the
Staffordshire Potteries (1829) describes the reaction to their new factory and
handsome Georgian house:

"The excellent
productions they now sent forth were so much in demand, that they erected a
new manufactory, and incurred general censure because of their extravagance
in erecting so large a manufactory and covering it with tiles, (all others
being covered with thatch,) and for erecting three ovens, (subsequently
increased to five.) Of the White Stone ware they now made dishes, plates,
and common vessels, also some elegant fruit baskets, bread trays, &c
glazed with salt, and probably cast in moulds; for the under side of the
saucers, and the outside of the cups have different ornaments. The White
Stone ware was varied into a better Tortoiseshell, by rubbing manganese upon
the vessels before they were glazed; for a different kind of ground zaffres
were applied with either a sponge or hair pencil; and similar application of
calcined copper, iron, and other metals, produced Cauliflower, and Melon
ware, &c. In 1750, the Brothers erected near their manufactory, (and now
in full view of Waterloo Road to Cobridge,) a Dwelling House, so durable,
and on so scale of extent, and a stile of magnificence, so far excelling all
in the district, that it was called the BIG HOUSE; and now bears the name,
(applied also to its founders, to distinguish the family, from that of the
Over House, and that of the Church Yard Works.) These Brothers continued
their manufactures until 1763; when they retired to enjoy a very large
property, the reward of their industry and integrity."

The Big House is illustrated above. Its relationship to its surrounding
buildings has completely changed in the last 250 years (see photos below).
When it was erected it stood at the front of an extensive factory all of which
since been demolished. The 1812 map shows that the factory entrance was
immediately by the side of the Big House where movement to and from the works
could be readily observed by the owners. The house was separated from the road
by a wall which enclosed a garden on two sides of the house (see maps
1812 and 1851). Architectural ornamentation was confined to the two elevations
visible to the general public. The back of the house which faced the factory
was built in a much plainer style. The Big House also stood at the head of a
large estate. The brothers rent book shows that between 1740 and 1767 they
spent £13,000 on the acquisition of land, houses and buildings in the area.

The name Wedgwood Square simply reflects the fact that the whole of the
North-East side of the town was the property of the Wedgwood family either of
the Big House or the Over House. Most of the land on both sides of Hamil Lane
formed part of their estate. John & Thomas Wedgwood were the biggest and
wealthiest property owners as well as pottery manufacturers in Burslem. They
and their house, factory and estate dominated the town.

Location 1 on
the index mapThe Big House of John & Thomas Wedgwood built
1750.once enclosed by a garden wall and part of the large
Red Lion Estate.(now in full view of Waterloo Road to
Cobridge &
Moorland Road to Smallthorne)

The back of the house faced the
factory was much
plainer than the front. The 1812 map shows that the
factory entrance was immediately
by the side of the Big House where movement
to and from the works could be readily observed by the owners.